There’s something seriously burning in my heart today. I feel it is really important for you to know, because it directly impacts you, your family, your children, and even, your children’s children.

It started when I watched the movie “Karate Kid” a few years ago. If you’ve never seen it, it’s about this kid who moves to China and is bullied, and ends up getting connected with this martial arts teacher, who helps him learn to defend himself. While watching this movie, I realized this little boy represented my husband, Hans.

Hans moved to Hawaii when he was 8 years old, and right away he was bullied by the local Hawaiian kids. Hans was short, with blond hair and blue eyes, and the Hawaiian kids were huge! He would often get beaten up by kids at school… and even chased him home.

When Hans was 12, his mom took him down to the YMCA, where a man named Damien taught a martial arts class. Damien was (and still is) a good, honorable man, with a strong faith in God, AND a brilliant multimillionaire on top of all that! As Hans’ instructor, he knowingly used this martial arts class to teach kids about God and to impart wisdom about money and business into these kids, all while they learned how to protect themselves and others.

Once Hans started learning about self-defense, it only took one time for a bully to come after him, for Hans to develop a completely different reputation. Hans has continued with various types of martial arts through the years, which has helped to enhance his confidence and self-discipline.

So, as I watched this movie awhile back, I started thinking about my three sons. These sons would be heads of their own households in the future and need to know how to protect their wives, children, homes and businesses. I asked myself, “Do they know how to do that right now?” Sadly, I realized the answer was no.

Our boys had not gone through the same training Hans had as a kid, and I truly believed we were doing them a disservice. See, we live in a society that takes our sons and puts them in soccer, football, basketball, or acting, dancing and music. But these are future men and heads of households. These young men have been emasculated, to a point where they don’t have a CLUE how to protect their families.

Yes, sports definitely teach teamwork and the arts can teach a lot of creative thinking skills, as well. But think about this, especially if you are a man. Do you know SPECIFIC self-defense skills? Do you know how to disarm someone with a knife, and how to take down your opponent? Do you know what to do if someone pulls a gun on you? Do your sons know these things? What about your wives and daughters?

I’m uniquely privileged to have a man who is a very skilled protector. And I wanted to make sure our sons learned to be the same kind of protector for their future wives and children. I will not allow my sons to be emasculated, not know how to fight and disarm an enemy to protect their families.

So right away, Hans and I started searching for a good martial arts instructor where we live. It’s not something that just comes “naturally;” it’s something that must be learned and practiced.

This idea was reinforced by a conversation I had with a couple of friends, on our way home from a First Steps To Success event. I asked these two men, “Do you know how to protect your wife?” Normally a man will jump to the defense and say, “Well sure, I do!” But neither answered quickly.

One of the guys said, “Dani, I grew up with martial arts, and I know exactly how to protect myself and my family. I continue to work on those skills today.” But the other said, “I have to be honest with you. I don’t know. I’ve never been taught self-defense. I wouldn’t know how to protect my wife. I’ve got to change that now.” (This young man stepped up and joined Hans in a class, where he is now learning those skills.)

Something happens to a man’s confidence, when he knows how to protect his family. It makes him more of who he is – a man. Being a protector is just part of the innate nature of a man. Men have done this from the beginning of time. A lot of us have done our sons a disservice, by not teaching them how to protect and defend. But it’s time that we teach them to be men.

We’ve got to groom the next generation for success by making sure they have the self-defense skill set. And if you do not have this skill set, whether you are a mother or father, married or single, it’s important for you to learn!

It’s also vitally important to share this message with everyone you care about. Please share this with your friends, family, coworkers and other parents you know.

I would love to know your thoughts about The Daily Fix today. Have you been trained to defend yourself and protect your family? What do you believe are the benefits of this? I can’t wait to read your comments. (Just post them below!)

And, don’t forget to join me for The Dani Johnson Show today for more insights and inspiration. You can find the show on your TV and radio and please remember you can always stream today’s show right here on our website.

In great faith,

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